Archives: Glossary
Cancer. Malignant cells can spread (metastasise) and eventually cause death if not treated.
A carcinogen is a substance, organism or agent capable of causing cancer. Carcinogens may occur naturally in the environment (such as ultraviolet rays in sunlight) or may be generated by humans (such as cigarette smoke). Most carcinogens are dangerous as they damage a cell’s DNA to cause mutations. The amount (dose) and duration of exposure […]
The development of cancer. This is the process that changes healthy, normal cells to cancer cells.
The stroma is the body’s support system that surrounds and helps hold organs and tissues in place. It is mostly made up of connective tissue, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves, which work together to provide nutrients and remove waste/extra fluid. In cancer, the stroma can sometimes be ‘hijacked’ by the tumour – instead of […]
A group or layer of cells that work together to perform a specific function, for example, muscle tissue which enables movement of the body.
Not cancerous/malignant. Benign tumours are not able to spread to other parts of the body.
The process of growing old. In biology, senescence is a process by which a cell ages and permanently stops dividing but does not die. Over time, large numbers of old (or senescent) cells can build up in tissues throughout the body. These cells remain active and can release harmful substances that may cause inflammation and […]
Unspecialised cells which can later develop into specialised cells such as muscle cells, blood cells, or brain cells, depending on what is needed by the body,
A part of the body that is made up of cells and tissues that perform a specific function. Examples of organs include the heart, lungs, and skin.
Proteins are the building blocks of cells and hence our bodies, such as skin, hair and antibodies. They play a crucial role in cellular processes – including signalling, which is how our cells talk to each other – and are needed for the body to function normally.